The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-01-13
Gov. McGill's Inaugural.
The new governor of Minnesota delivered
the following inaugural address to the two
houses OF the legislature in Joint SESSION:


the duties of the office Of governor to which
have been duly chosen by the electors OF the
state. 1t becomes my duty. In accordance with q
Wei! established custom, to address YOU on such
matters OF public concern as appear TO Il
worthy Of yonr attention and consideration. T.
nfst ces're to bear testimony to the ability
lid 'ity with which the duties OF the position
have been administered during the last tive
wears by NY predecessor, Gov Hubbard. His
message, to which you have just listened. is tae
closing act OF an admins. ratiOn that honors
ak: i.I:nsrlt and our great state which he has
50 I'll: ntul.y served, aud entities him to the
thanks "t a grateful people.
POLITICAL. PLATFORMS AND PLEDGES.
by reading the platforms OF the two leading
political pacJi: S Of this state. adopted III their
conventions held in September last, it will be
observed that liberal promises were made in
both. On a number Of subjects they seem to
have been in full accord. For instance, in re
sncct TO establishing a home for disabled and
needy survivors OF the Union army in our state:
tho "bolisling o: the contract system of prison
labor: the amendment Of our railroad and ware
house laws. where needed, TO secure relief to the
agricultural classes; the establishment of a
state bureau of labor statistics, and in other
n.at:ers there appears to have been no division
OF sentiment. am hound to believe that both
conventions were sincere IL their declarations,
a2d that you. as representatives OF the people.
elected on the platform Of one or the other of
the two great parties. are hero in good faith to
redeem the pledges made. l believe that the
peup2 have q right to expect from us strict
fufii!ment OF these declarations and for one
stan'i ready to Go my part to carry them out in
good faith. II it has been customary hcret ofore
for legislatures to disregard the issues on which
they were elected. let the custom be broken
Honesty and good faith IN political party are
as much to be admired as like attributes in an
individual.
RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION
The subject OK transporsation-of reasonable
tariff rates on our Railroads.&c. OF supreme in
tercst to the people OF the state. and have no
donbo will secure your earnest attention. The
rl*ht OF the legislature to pass laws for the
supervision Of railroads has been for number
vEnf t!a1 Wis vi<v1f
ever established without a severe and protract ed
struggle. we'll remember that when in 1870 it
was first advocated by the then governor Of this
state, In message t" the leg sla;ure. the propo-
sitlon was received with much doubt. Not only
all the RAILROAD officials and capitalists opposed
1t, but large majority Of the lawyers Of the
fundamental law of the land, and opposed to the
genius OF our institutions. However, in the fol-
lowing year q bill was passed by the legislature.
law. fixing rates. both freight and passenger.
About the same time similar legislation was en-
acted in several other Northwestern states.
and perhaps in some other of the North
Granger laws" against various railroad
laws: The enactments were experimental and
no doubt crude and lll-adapted to the exlgen-
c1es OF the situation. but they served the pur-
ton of the right Of legislative control. The
judicial decisions obtained under them, not only
IN the 81 etc courts but in the supreme court of
the United States well, settled forever the
constitutionality Of such laws and confirmed
the authority OF the legislature. Thus was
t&Dlished one OF the most important rights ever
supervision over railroad and kindred corpora
tons has sometimes been doubted since then,
but the right is no longer questioned.
co not take it to be the policy Of the state to
needlessly Interfere with or to harass any great
interest. and more especially the railroad inter-
ests Of the commonwealth. That railroads have
become indispensable to commercial and asri-
cultural prosperity, il not to the very existence
OF the civilization OF the century, no one needs
any longer to be told. To eliminate them would
be to turn back the wheels OF progress 10 the
very portals OF the dark ages. But their supreme
Importance makes it only the more essential
that they should be so judlciously managed and
controlled as to develop the highest efficiency
ana usefulness OF which they arc capable. not
simply as wealth producers TO their managers
and proprietors. but engines powerful for
good TO the masses of the people we'll.
The very fact that every city. town and village
strives for the most ample railroad facilities is
tribute to their value which no one can gaiusay.
ANY movement to Cypress or cripple these inter-
ests, simply to satisfy popular camor would
not only be unjust to the roads, but ruinous to
the people themselves. There is often wide
but honest divergence Of opinion between the
and their managers and owners. They view
matters from different stanupoints and often
each does the other injustice. The duty OF the
state is to find the middle ground-the happy
mean between the extremcs--and having found
it, there to establish, ith firm but impartial
hand, the great and often intricate relations be-
tween the railroads and those who furnish them
buslnc IS and pay their dividends.
The policy OF this state, after some legislative
fuctuation, has settled upon board Of COM
missioners as the best instrumentalicy with
which to accomplish this end. My Judgment
concurs in this policy, and that safety to both
sides lies in board of able, incorruptiblc men,
fearless In the discharge OF public duty, and
with ample powers to enforce their DEGREES
Though railroads in this country are not built
with public funds. they can not be classed as
private property. They are common carriers
and, even under the common law, are under
certain obligations and owe certain duties tc the
pubic. Their franchises are a grant from the
conferred by the state Therefore it is from the
people that they obtain life and authority, and
their accountability to the people logically fol-
though not one of invested capital, is real and
substantial, and one that the state canuot in its
duty to the public cease to protect. The right
OF control On the part OF the state is hnt fair
retnrn for the powers and privileges conferred
This right indeed would seem to be inherent and
infcasibie in the state. 1t is even to be doubted
it The state could divest itself of the duties and
responsibilities implied, were it so disposed.
There is but little no organization among
the farmers of the state for mutual protection,
and III the matter of freights and the inspection
and grading OF grain their interests are specially
committed To the railroad aud warehouse com
missioners: As a rule, other industries have
more complete organization and are much bet
ter qualified to care for themselves The rail-
roads. as is well known, are under the manage
meat OF able men, capable Of protecting them at
have deeper interest in the matter OF railroad
supervision than any other class of our people
and it is not only the privilege but the duty OF
whtchtul and effective
1t is especially desirable in this state where
the chief Industry il agriculture, that the trans
port2tion rates be as low as IL consistent with 2
tar return on the actual capital invested in the
roads Indeed, it is qucs ;io.,abie if the original
cost OF rold furnishes a certain criterion OF
what it should be allowed to earn or by which
to Tx its rates. Values Of orher kinds Of prop
erty fnctuate, and railroad property is no excep-
ton to the rule. If railroads can be constructed
now than prior to 1873, does it follow that the
old roads should be allowed TO charge from 80
TO 90 per cent more than the new ones, con-
stracted at a much less COST could reasonably
charge? 1t should be the policy of the state to
secure for It's great producing classes the cheap
est rates possible with consistency and Justice
to the other interests involved
The railroad and warehouse commissioners
nave reported to you certain proposed lesisla-
ton OF great Importance already referred to
and commented on by Gov. Hubbard. which I
Doubt not Will receive your earnest considera.
tlon. am sure you will be glad to adopt anv
changes or amendments in the railroad and
gram laws which will contribute to their eff
cheney and to the usefulness OF the commission
ana shall not trespass on your time to call at
tentton to them in detail
TAXATION OF RAILROADS.
IL appears plain that new and definite le1isla-
tion rs needed on the subject Of railroad taxa
t1on The commissioners seem to be in doubt
concerning the liability Of any railroad COMPANY
which has not formally accepted the provisions
OF the law Of March, 1873, relating to the tax
alton Of the St. Paul. Saltwater &; Taylor's Falls
Railroad company, to even pay per centum of
its earnings, in lieu Of taxes, under EXISTING
LEGISLATION. This liability should be 80 de-
hnitely settled that there could be no question
about 1t in any case It seems desirable chat
the whole subject be inquired into by the levis-
latnre. and plain and consistent law enacted.
several suits have already been carried to The
supreme court for . construction of its meaning,